Page 85 of Those That Defy the Realm

“A mate bond, where do I sign up for one of those?” Ash releases the lip he’s been chewing and it immediately pulls up on one side into a beaming smile.

“You’re ready for that?” I ask. Now probably isn’t the time but seeing as I’ve brought it up, I go all in.

“You only have to ask.” Ash’s grin widens more, and I realise it mirrors my own face. The worry for our female is still coating my skin and making it feel tight but a lightness, a happiness, radiates from me as well.

“Is that so?” I tease him.

“It is, and as soon as you get our female back.”

“I’m holding you to it.”

“I love you,” he says.

“I love you too.” I wish he was here. I miss his physical presence more than I can comprehend.

“Is she going to turn?” Ash’s words crash us back to reality.

“I think she was, at least Rory was hopeful after she and Claire talked about it for most of the evening.”

“Two vampires. I’m going to have my work cut out for me. And a permanent iron deficiency.”

I chuckle at his insinuation. With a mate bond in place there would be no fear, we could feed on him whenever we wanted. The thought extends my fangs in my jaw.

“You want my blood?” Ash says, immediately noticing my canines.

“Of course I do. I want every part of you. Forever.”

“Me too,” he whispers.

“We’re going to figure out a way for all three of us to be together. I’m going to make it more of a priority.” I give him another promise.

“Go get our girl back safely first,” Ash demands.

“Deal,” I tell him before saying goodbye and preparing myself to do just that.

CHAPTER 29

ASH

“I’m sorry Ash, my hands are tied. I can’t let you back to Froan right now.” Agent Morris’s face shows genuine sympathy, stemming my hatred for her and the entire authorities.

Scratch that, I loathe the authorities with everything I have, but Morris and her team have been downgraded somewhat.

“But she could be in real trouble,” I try to reason. Is it even reasoning when it’s the truth? I’d taken a gamble, after calling Ty back and telling him my plan. I’d told the authorities what Rory had discovered about Claire. Though, I hadn’t revealed the full truth about how many unturned vampires we now suspected were potentially roaming around Froan.

“And the vampire pack are handling it. We’ve sent Mitch over to the ranch to help bring her back as well.”

I knew this already. This conversation had been going in circles for the last five minutes.

“Fine. I’ll sit here while my mate is missing.” I have given up hiding what Claire is to me, bond or not, she is my mate.

“I sympathise, Ash, I really do. But we cannot compromise the bigger mission. And Claire isn’t missing. Her ferry will be arriving in West Scotia soon and her friend will be at the docks. Henry and the others will be there within a day as well.”

She’s throwing logic at me but it isn’t helping in the slightest. The only reason I’m sitting in my parents’ office right now, talking to Morris via a laptop, is because that faint thread I have to my female is quiet. She’s not come to any harm.

If I’d felt even the barest hint of pain through that connection, I’d be on a boat and breaking several laws. I still might.

Signing off the call with Morris, I slam the laptop lid closed and face my mum. She’d been listening in, although not visible to the Fae detective on the screen.